Woman dies in downtown apartment fire

A 41-year-old woman who lived in an apartment above Art's Custom Center on South First Street died in the fire which erupted shortly after midnight Tuesday. Fire department officials believe the blaze was started accidentally.

A 41-year-old woman died early Tuesday morning in a fire that destroyed an apartment above Art's Custom Center at the intersection of South 1st and Sycamore streets.

Fire officials believe Renee Huestis was killed in a blaze that began accidentally in the kitchen of the apartment.

Around midnight, the Abilene Fire Department was called to a structure fire that was reported when a CityLink employee saw smoke rising from the building and called 911.

More than 30 firefighters, two ladder trucks and four fire engines battled the two-alarm fire for more than two hours, as a crowd of onlookers gathered.

Assistant Fire Marshall John Brunett said the investigation into the fire is ongoing, but it did appear to be accidental.

Around 2:45 a.m., Brunett said the fire had been knocked down sufficiently to allow investigators into the building to begin investigating the cause of the fire.

Art Avila, owner of Art's Custom Center, said he had been working out of his shop at that location for more than 20 years.

Fire damage was limited to the second floor apartment and the roof, but the shop on the ground floor sustained heavy smoke and water damage.